Serving Up a Winning Hand

Right Bower of Seven Hills not going alone (but they’ve been dealt some great cards)

By Todd VanSickle | Feb. 7, 2026

Right Bower Kitchen & Coffee owner Victoria Levinsohn recently returned from El Salvador. The trip was intended to be a vacation, but it turned into business.

“It wasn’t planned this way, but El Salvador is a very renowned coffee growing country, so I was able to do some farm visits and marketing stuff,” Levinsohn says. “I brought back some amazing coffees from producers that I got to visit and did a tasting here.”

For little more than two months, Right Bower Kitchen & Coffee of Traverse City has been serving up freshly-made baked goods, locally-sourced dishes and, of course, gourmet coffees. Guests can order breakfast or lunch all day.

The coffee shop and bakery is tucked away inside the Seven Hills hotspot on Old Mission Peninsula. Mission Proper formerly occupied the space, but closed in October.

“I was an employee at Mission Proper and decided to carry the torch forward with a refreshed vision,” Levinsohn says. “While my business is completely new, I had some inspiration from working at Mission Proper before.”

Collaboration (for All Businesses)

Levinsohn says Seven Hills is a unique space and has a lot to offer guests throughout the year, including events and live entertainment during the summer. She feels Right Bower fits in well with the community hub that has diverse offerings.

“I refer to it as the Seven Hills collective,” Levinsohn says. “We’re not competing. It’s all very collaborative. There are two different main buildings. So we share one building with Old Mission Distilling, and then the other building houses Tinker Studio, and they do art classes, as well as selling local crafts, books, and art.”

The owner says Right Bower’s name is a play on its location and a popular Michigan pastime—euchre. Right Bower’s logo is a feminized Jack of Diamonds.

“I am all right. I dabble a bit,” Levinsohn describes her euchre-playing skills. “It’s a unifying Midwest and northern Michigan sentiment. I think the nostalgia of it brings people together, and that's what I want to cultivate.”

Right Bower is also located just east of Bowers Harbor on Old Mission.

“The name has a double meaning, being close to Bowers Harbor, for sure,” Levinsohn says. “When I came up with it, I was thinking that a lot of things on Old Mission Peninsula are named for Michigan or the peninsula. They all have names that resonate with the area. I wanted to do that as well, but I wanted to be extra creative somehow.”

Right Bower and Old Mission Distillery currently host euchre nights on Sundays at 5pm.

“We keep the kitchen open and serve dinner,” Levinsohn says. “People want cocktails or beer in the evening more than they really want a latte. We are able to support the bar and they help our side as well.”

Even when Right Bower closes they still have something to offer, Levinsohn tells us. Old Mission Distillery patrons are able to snag a bite by ordering food that Right Bower leaves available for purchase after they shut down for the day.

“We always leave some after-hours food like soup or sandwiches,” Levinsohn says. “There’s not a ton of people ordering food in the evenings. But, a customer working on their computer for a few hours in the afternoon doesn’t have to leave at 3pm when we close. They can just stay, because the whole building stays open.”

In the future, she hopes to work more with nearby vineyards.

“We’re kind of one of the only casual food stops for people visiting the wineries,” says Levinsohn. “I am excited to connect more with the wineries and see if we can collaborate a little bit.”

Comfort (for Food and Coffee)

Right Bower’s atmosphere is warm and inviting with comfortable seating and a relaxed vibe.

“A lot of coffee shop strategy is let people be comfortable, but not too comfortable, because they’ll stay forever and they'll only pay $4,” Levinsohn says. “I’m not too worried about that. I want people to just be comfortable and enjoy the space, so we have a lot of comfortable spots to sit and some unique designs.”

The whole space has a modern feel with a retro twist that flows seamlessly between the distillery and coffee shop. Subway tiles line the front counter and a large Persian-style rug covers the concrete floor. The many windows give a view of the surrounding hills and maples that dominate the landscape.

Right Bower is still in its infancy, but the owner is looking to expand on what she has to offer guests, including more dinners, bakery goods, and possibly roasting coffee. Levinsohn says Right Bower uses “high quality” Panther Coffee Roasters.

“I’m very passionate about coffee quality,” she says. (Be sure to check out their seasonal specials in addition to a list of classic options.)

Levinsohn describes her food as “classic, comfortable plates with an elevated twist.” On the breakfast side, you’ll see a dressed-up avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and the Cinnamon Oat Pancakes, topped with Greek yogurt, spiced apple compote, and crunchy pepitas.

For lunch, there’s the Spinach Artichoke Wrap, a roast beef melt, and the Queen’s Proper Handheld (honey-roasted turkey layered with swiss cheese, thinly sliced apples, pickled red onion, cranberry dijonnaise, and arugula on warm house-made focaccia). Soup, soft pretzels, and bites for littles (like PB&J and grilled cheese), round out the offerings.

Levinsohn uses local ingredients as much as possible, and as the seasons change, so does the menu.

“I think a lot of people up here are looking for comfort, and we want to give that to them,” Levinsohn says. “I love the creativity that comes with cooking. I want to highlight Michigan produce. It tastes better that way too.”

The owner adds that Right Bower has a pastry chef and bakes most things in-house. Levinsohn makes all the bread and helps out her team of eight employees where she can.

She sees a demand for more dinner options and is planning on doing more this spring. One of her favorite aspects about running Right Bower is the monthly dinners, which are slated for the third Tuesday of each month. Tickets are sold for the four-course meal and seating is limited.

“It is a set menu themed differently each month meant to highlight local farmers and healthy, delicious and more intricate spreads of food,” she says.

Looking Ahead (to Summer!)

As the warmer months approach, Levinsohn plans to have dinner daily and stay open later.

“June is when I’m planning on launching the dinners officially,” she says. “That’s kind of meant to complement the summer music series and when more people are in town.”

Before starting Right Bower, Levisohn was staying with her aunt and uncle on Old Mission training for the Frankfort half Ironman. Swimming is her strongest leg, she says.

“Finished it,” she says of her first Ironman. “It happened—it could have been worse, it could have been better. I'm relatively new to the triathlon world, but I really like it.”

The East Lansing native spent a few years living a nomadic life traveling and working remotely. She helped open and manage a coffee shop in Los Angeles, California, and also started and ran a plant-based meal prep company.

“I see things growing in so many ways,” Levinsohn says of Right Bower’s future. “I’m trying to hold myself back a little bit, I have a lot of ideas.”

Find Right Bower at 13795 Seven Hills Rd in Traverse City. (231) 492-0026; rightbowertc.com